Turn your nature strip into a thriving verge garden

On the verge

There are many reasons why property owners might want to take their gardening prowess to the nature strip or verge outside their home – to extend growing space, cool down and beautify the front of the property, create a biodiverse environment to nurture wildlife, share homegrown produce with the local community – and more! Whatever lies at the heart of your own gardening adventure, it helps to be in the know before you begin – and to be inspired by front verge garden ideas from other innovative gardeners.

The important stuff

Start by checking in with your local council – many encourage verge gardens, offering guidelines, assistance and even plants. However most local authorities have different rules and nature strip laws, including regulations on plant types and height, structures, clearance from the kerb, access around paths, driveways and letterboxes, and for pedestrian and traffic safety, so it pays to ‘dial before you dig’.

Planting trees (or other woody species) may not be allowed, especially as their roots could interfere with underground infrastructure and their branches may impact overhead power lines or lines of sight for traffic. Make sure to contact Before You Dig to check the location of any underground services in the vicinity that could be damaged (or damage you!) by a digging project. And discuss your nature strip plans with neighbours – this may help stifle any objections at the onset and, as a bonus, you might find willing helpers or start a trend in your street!

What to plant in your nature strip

Groundcovers are ideal plants for landscaping verges, says horticulturist Roger Fox – for just one planting hole, you get a square metre or so of foliage cover. For sunny spots, he suggests blue chalk sticks (Senecio serpens) and pigface (Carpobrotus), which bears daisy-like flowers. Tough, ground-covering grevilleas and scaevola flower for many months of the year. “In shadier spots, kangaroo vine (Cissus antarctica) works well, as do clumping plants like dianella, liriope and lomandra when they’re mass planted,” he says.

Verge vegies to consider include spring onions, silverbeet, rhubarb, kale, cut-and-come-again lettuces, and herbs like oregano, thyme, lemongrass and rosemary. Horticulturist Angie Thomas of Yates also suggests dwarf varieties of tomatoes or compact ‘bush’ pumpkins like Golden Nugget. “Don’t forget flowers, which brighten up the verge and provide a source of food for beneficial insects and birds,” she says. Avoid planting anything toxic to humans or animals as it is a public space.

Address the basics

Once you’ve been given the green light for your front verge garden, take a look at the planting area. If you’re planning to grow edibles, have the soil tested (for a fee) in case of contaminants (search online for soil screening or testing). Bear in mind that the ground is likely to be compacted and unproductive. “Verge areas generally offer unimproved soil, and can be quite a tough environment for plants,” warns Roger. “So if you’re creating a new garden bed, prepare it a few weeks ahead of planting by forking through a mix of compost and well-rotted cow manure and then applying a soil-wetting agent.”

Work out how much light the space gets – is it shaded by buildings or street trees, exposed to the sun all day or somewhere in between? Your best chance of success will be planting to the conditions. “Put shade-loving plants beneath street trees, and tough, drought-hardy species in sun-exposed positions,” says Roger.

Flowers and native plants to consider

A space planted with pretty shrubs can give the front of your home a welcoming beauty boost and enhance its street appeal, and will need less regular maintenance than a vegie plot. “Ideally, verge landscapes should be able to survive largely on rainfall, with just an occasional helping hand during heatwaves,” says Roger. “Think ground-covering succulents and natives, as well as tough grass-like species such as lomandra. Keep the plant heights low to medium, and steer clear of species with sharp spikes.” Avoid plants with toxic foliage, flowers or produce (search online if you’re not sure), and keep plantings from spilling over onto pathways or blocking access to parked cars.

Growing edibles in a nature strip 

If you plan to grow vegies and herbs in your nature strip, raised garden beds filled with bagged soil and a good mix of nurturing nutrients can help solve the problem of poor or damaged soil, but do check whether they’re permitted by your local council, and be aware that they’ll demand plenty of water. Most vegies need at least six hours of sunlight to thrive so, if your space is heavily shaded, you may need to reconsider your plant choices.

For safety, avoid planting vegies that require staking. Also, be aware that most verges are adjacent to hard surfaces. “These can become very hot during summer, so choosing hardy plants is a good idea,” says Angie. Check what’s in season at your local store.

Sharing and caring your verge garden produce

Certain plants – especially vegies – need looking after to reach their full potential in a verge garden. “During the warmest months, watering thoroughly several times a week will usually be required,” says Angie. “To help keep the soil moist, apply a mulch like bark chips. Add a liquid or soluble fertiliser into a watering can, so you can water and feed the verge at the same time. And each spring and autumn, reapply a rich organic fertiliser to promote soil health.”

Remember that the nature strip is a public space, and accessible to anyone (and their pets!). Passers-by are free to pick flowers, snip herbs or harvest vegies you’ve planted. This is a wonderful way to give back to your local community. Engage with your neighbours so they’re aware of when and how to harvest. You could also add a few helpful signs to indicate what’s ready to pick and what isn’t, and how to take the vegies that are ready to go – along with a reminder to thoroughly wash any edibles, as they may have been visited by local animals and wildlife!

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Photo Credit: Sue Stubbs